Six Star Creatine X3 Review: Everything You Need to Fuel Post-Workout Recovery

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Post-workout recovery is an essential part of any fitness routine. During this time, our muscles are repaired, glycogen is replenished and we grow stronger. To facilitate this process, people often turn to recovery supplements like protein powders, which provide the nutrients necessary to support health and fitness goals. While most people know that consuming high-quality protein after a workout is important, there are several supplements designed to enhance and support recovery.

Three of the most popular, widely-used and well-studied supplements are creatine, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and simple carbohydrates. Creatine has consistently been shown to increase overall strength, power and performance during workouts. BCAAs are essential amino acids that play a key role in muscle protein synthesis. And simple carbohydrates rapidly replenish the body’s muscle glycogen stores to fuel future training sessions. While these three supplements are often sold individually, there is a product on the market that is a potent combination of all three, Six Star’s Creatine X3.

In this article we'll review everything you need to know about this multifaceted supplement, focusing on the ingredient quality and dosage levels, our pros, things to consider and my own personal experience using this product. We'll also discuss the price point, customer reviews and much more to help you decide whether adding Six Star Creatine X3 to your routine is a worthwhile endeavor.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Six Star Creatine X3 At a Glance

• Includes a combination of creatine, BCAAs, amino acids and simple carbohydrates
• Formulated to enhance post-workout recovery
• Hefty 33-gram serving size
• Priced at $34.99

Pros

• Contains 8,000 milligrams of creatine monohydrate and 3,500 milligrams of amino acids per serving
• Includes 18 grams of fast-digesting carbohydrates to quickly replenish muscle glycogen stores
• Mixes easily in water with no clumping
• 20% subscribe and save discount

Things to Consider

• Only one flavor option available, fruit punch
• Includes natural and artificial flavors, artificial colors and artificial sweeteners
• Six Star uses proprietary blends, so you don’t know exactly how much of each amino acid you are consuming

Six Star Creatine X3 Claims

Creatine X3 is a sports supplement designed for athletes looking to enhance their post-workout recovery. The powerhouse combination of creatine, amino acids and simple carbohydrates rapidly restores the body and prepares it to tackle future training sessions. Six Star's idea is that if you can improve recovery, you can train more frequently and for longer durations, ultimately leading to better performance outcomes. Six Star notes that this product is formulated to support the body’s natural creatine production, increase lean muscle mass, improve strength and support muscle recovery after intense training.

Quality of Ingredients

Creatine Monohydrate (8,000 milligrams)

Creatine monohydrate is one of the most well-studied and effective performance-enhancing supplements on the market. The science is clear that a daily 5-gram dose is enough to elicit myriad benefits including increased muscle mass, strength gains, improved muscular endurance and post-workout recovery benefits. Six Star Creatine X3 contains 8 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving which is more than the recommended dose. That being said, the scientific literature has found that anything under a 10-gram dose is unlikely to cause any serious negative side effects aside from some potential bloating and GI distress.

BCAA-Amino Blend (2,500 milligrams)

Six Star's BCAA-amino blend is a combination of taurine and the three branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. Unfortunately, these ingredients are included in a proprietary blend, meaning we don’t know the exact amount of taurine or branched-chain amino acids in the formula.

That being said, these ingredients are included for their potential performance-enhancing benefits. The Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition has found that taurine supplementation may help improve recovery and mitigate muscle damage after training. However, more studies are necessary to determine the overall effectiveness of the product. 

Supplementation with branched-chain amino acids is a controversial subject because the scientific literature has continually found that BCAAs alone will not produce an anabolic muscle-building response in humans. This is because while BCAAs, specifically leucine, are necessary to trigger muscle protein synthesis, you need to have all nine of the essential amino acids available to actually build muscle. This is why it’s generally better to consume a high-quality protein powder rather than BCAAs after training.

However, there are some instances in which BCAAs may have some significant benefits. One example is BCAA supplementation for individuals who primarily consume a plant-based diet. This is because most plant-based proteins have significantly lower concentrations of BCAAs than their animal-based counterparts. In this case, it may be wise to supplement with BCAAs while you eat your plant-based protein to stimulate muscle protein synthesis within the body optimally.

Creatine Synthesis Matrix (1,000 milligrams)

The creatine synthesis matrix is a blend of three amino acids: glycine, arginine and methionine. Similar to the BCAA-amino blend listed above, this matrix is also a proprietary blend, so we are unable to inform you of the exact amount of each ingredient in the powder. These amino acids are likely included in the formula because they all play a role in creatine synthesis within the body. However, this supplement already contains 8,000 milligrams of creatine monohydrate per serving, so it isn’t really necessary for the body to synthesize additional creatine within the body.

Other ingredients

The other ingredients found in Creatine X3 include the simple carbohydrates maltodextrin and dextrose to help replenish the body’s muscle glycogen stores, as well as a small amount of sodium which may help rehydrate the body after training. The remaining ingredients are natural and artificial flavors and colors and sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium. While these artificial ingredients have been deemed safe by the FDA, there is growing evidence that they may not be best for long-term health. Hopefully, Six Star will decide to remove some of these artificial ingredients in future iterations of its products.

Six Star Creatine X3 Cost

Six Star Creatine X3 is a budget-friendly product considering it contains both creatine and branched-chain amino acids, effectively replacing two standalone supplements. If you choose a one-time purchase, Creatine X3 will cost you $34.99, which equates to $1.17 per serving. That being said, Six Star does offer a 20% subscribe and save discount which drops the price down to $27.99 ($0.93 per serving), saving repeat customers a significant amount of money.

Who Should Use Six Star Creatine X3

Six Star Creatine X3 is meant for anyone looking to improve their athletic performance through enhancing post-workout recovery. What this really means is that instead of taking this supplement and immediately feeling the effects, such as when you use a conventional pre-workout powder, this product works behind the scenes to help you recover after intense training sessions and provides more long-term benefits.

You can also adjust how much of this product you use to suit your specific needs. For example, the amount of creatine in this supplement, eight grams per serving, makes it a phenomenal option for individuals looking to partake in a high-dose creatine-loading phase. This is when you ingest around 15 to 20 grams of creatine per day for the first five to seven days to saturate muscles with creatine quickly. In this case, I would suggest consuming one serving of Creatine X3 in the morning and another serving in the evening. This will help to prevent any potential negative side effects from consuming two scoops and around 16 grams of creatine in one sitting. After the initial week, the scientific literature advises dropping your dosage to around 0.03 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. This maintenance level of creatine would only require around a half-serving of Creatine X3 per day, so be sure to adjust your serving size according to your specific health and fitness goals.

Who Should NOT Use Six Star Creatine X3

Despite the amount of creatine and amino acids in this product, it also contains many artificial ingredients, including artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors. If you’re someone who prefers to stay away from artificial ingredients, then Six Star Creatine X3 likely isn’t the product for you.

It’s also important to note that 8 grams of creatine monohydrate is a significant dose. At this dosage level, a full serving of Creatine X3 may cause certain side effects such as GI distress and bloating in susceptible individuals, due to water retention. This is because creatine causes your muscle cells to store more water than usual, making it extremely important to stay properly hydrated when using this product. If the 8-gram serving size is too much for you, I suggest using a half-scoop to see if that relieves any issues.

Lastly, Six Star Creatine X3 is not currently tested by any third-party test labs. This may be something to note for athletes who compete in drug-tested sports and competitions and would prefer that the supplements they use are certified banned-substance free.

Related Article: Creatine vs. Pre-Workout: Which is Better for You?

What Customers Are Saying About Six Star Creatine X3

Creatine X3 is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Six Star website, so it’s safe to say that most consumers enjoy the supplement. A number of reviewers mentioned that after using the product consistently for a week or so, they noticed an increase in overall strength and endurance at the gym. One user writes, “I immediately noticed strength and endurance gains within the first five to seven days and I was able to lift about 5 pounds more on each exercise.” While there are a few negative reviews, they are mainly centered around the overall taste and sweetness of the product, not the quality. While many people enjoy the classic fruit punch flavor, some consumers find it far too sweet—the product uses multiple artificial sweeteners including sucralose and acesulfame potassium. While I do agree that the product is sweet, you can always add more water instead of the recommended eight ounces to help balance out the flavor and sweetness.

About Six Star

Six Star Pro Nutrition is a sports supplement brand from Iovate Health Sciences International, a sports nutrition company that aims to deliver high-quality and innovative nutrition supplements for athletes. A variety of the products Six Star offers include protein powders, pre-workouts, creatine, BCAAs and hydration supplements that are sold as standalone products and as part of supplement stacks available at a 25% discount. One of Six Star’s newest and most exciting partnerships is with Kellogg’s, offering iconic flavors like Frosted Flakes and Fruit Loops for its protein powders. Consumers really seem to be enjoying this collaboration and the authentic flavor profiles of their favorite breakfast cereals. Regarding the brand’s reputation, Six Star is seen as a budget-friendly sports nutrition brand that’s great for entry-level athletes and bodybuilders. The brand's main issues stem from the use of artificial ingredients, such as flavors, colors and sweeteners, in its products.

My Personal Experience Using Six Star Creatine X3

I used Six Star Creatine X3 for over a week and took note of the product's key features. The first is regarding the taste and mixability. The supplement mixes easily in water and tastes great despite containing several artificial ingredients including two artificial sweeteners. While I normally find most products that contain sucralose and acesulfame potassium to be extremely sweet, it wasn't the case with this supplement. I also didn’t experience any unwanted negative side effects such as bloating or GI distress when using the product.

The only thing I’m unable to comment on is whether this product in particular will help improve strength and endurance gains in the gym. The issue is that I was already using a creatine supplement on a regular basis before switching over to Creatine X3 and I can’t say that I’ve experienced any additional benefits using this product specifically. That being said, if you are someone who isn't currently using a creatine supplement, then this supplement's 8-gram creatine monohydrate dose will definitely help you reach your recommended daily intake levels.

Six Star Creatine X3 FAQs

What does Six Star Creatine X3 do for you?

Six Star Creatine X3 provides the body with a combination of creatine, amino acids and simple carbohydrates to help increase muscle, improve strength and enhance athletic performance and recovery.

How often should you take Six Star Creatine X3?

Six Star Creatine X3 is designed to be taken once per day. On training days, Six Star recommends consuming one-scoop immediately post-workout, while on non-training days it is suggested to take one-scoop in the morning when you wake up.

Is Six Star Creatine X3 good for muscle growth?

Yes, based on the ingredients and dosage levels in Creatine X3, this supplement is a good choice for individuals looking to enhance muscle growth. That being said, it’s important to remember that consistent muscle growth is dependent on a variety of factors, including adequate calorie and protein intake along with a well-designed nutrition plan, a regular resistance training program and high-quality sleep.

Takeaway: Is Six Star Creatine X3 Worth It?

I do think that Six Star Creatine X3 is worth the price if for nothing else than the whopping 8 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving. In all honesty, I think it would be best to simply use a half-scoop serving each day, effectively turning the container into a 60-serving tub. My only concern with this product is the use of artificial ingredients. However, if this doesn’t bother you, this is one of the best-value creatine products you can find.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.